Air France's "Millennial Airline" Joon Begins Flying in December; Fares Start at €39 One-Way
Joon, the millennial-targeted Air France subsidiary, will take flight beginning December 1, 2017. The carrier, which its parent company Air France describes as a hybrid between low-cost and traditional carriers, will target 18-35-year-olds as it launches service in Europe.
The carrier announced that beginning December 1, 2017, Joon will launch service from its base in Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to four European cities: Barcelona (BCN; 51x weekly flights), Berlin (TXL; 37x weekly flights), Lisbon (LIS; 28x weekly flights) and Porto (OPO; 3x weekly flights). Fares for these new routes start at 39 euro one-way. Then, beginning summer 2018, Joon will extend its route network to two long-haul destinations: Fortaleza, Brazil (FOR; 2x weekly flights) and Mahe, Seychelles (SEZ; 3x weekly flights). The long-haul routes will start at 249 euros and 299 euros for FOR and SEZ service, respectively.
For the carrier's launch, Joon will employ Air France flight attendants and pilots. The carrier's fleet will consist of A320, A321, A340 and A350 aircraft.
Joon's strategy in targeting millennials seems a bit forced. In its most recent press release, Joon CEO Jean-Michel Mathieu said, "To create Joon, we worked together to define a new offer in the air transport industry, in a spirit of creativity, innovation and agility. Joon is Air France's little sister, who breaks tradition and takes inspiration from the new expectations of travellers to offer an experience that goes beyond the aircraft doors." The carrier then goes on to tell potential customers that "Joon is a fashion brand, a rooftop bar, an entertainment channel, a personal assistant... and Joon does flying too!"
(Joon is pronounced somewhat similarly to the French jeune, or "young.")
The carrier has two planned classes of service, business and economy. Business-class passengers will get free catering with a paid option for economy passengers. Travelers will get free non-alcoholic drinks and access to YouJoon, the carrier's in-flight streaming service. Each seat will offer a USB port, and business-class passengers will get a virtual reality headset on long-haul flights.
As for the look of the carrier, it's emphasizing its electric blue and white color scheme. Flight attendants will be outfitted in a uniform that it's calling "chic sportswear," made up of "classic and modern garments."
If you're interested in trying out Joon, tickets to its first four destinations are now bookable. We're seeing many fares at the carrier's 39-euro level. For example, you can fly round-trip between Paris (CDG) and Berlin (TXL) for 77 euro.
Joon doesn't have a website itself. Instead, you'll book through Air France. If you're looking to continue your trip past any of Joon's destination offerings, you'll be able to connect at CDG via Air France. Joon said in its press release that there is the possibility of earning and using Flying Blue miles when traveling with the carrier. However, at the time of writing, that option is not yet available.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.